Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 March 2018
472. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Health the reason for the exclusion of the patient information leaflet in the patient information pack for the HPV vaccination administered in schools. [12047/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE is committed to providing accurate information for parents about diseases, the vaccines to prevent them and side effects to allow them to choose whether or not to give consent to vaccination. All the information provided to parents about vaccination is prepared from the available licensed documentation for each vaccine, the Summary of Products Characteristics and Patient Information Leaflet. The information is presented in clear simple language and approved by the National Adult Literacy Agency so that it can be understood by all adults. The Health Information and Quality Authority Guide ‘Communicating in plain English’ (2015) developed in partnership with NALA states that “One in six people find reading and understanding everyday texts difficult: for example, reading a health leaflet, bus timetable or medicine instructions”. Therefore, like other countries providing school immunisation programmes, the Patient Information Leaflet is replaced by this information leaflet and like other countries the HSE information leaflet provides the same information on side effects of the vaccine.
Prior to all school immunisations, parents receive an information pack in a sealed package with an information leaflet, consent form and cover letter. The information packs for all immunisations are standardised nationally. The information booklets include information on all the known side effects that can occur after each vaccination. All the known side effects of the HPV vaccine Gardasil are outlined in the information booklet given to parents. Parents are also given contact details for their local immunisation office and advised to speak to a member of the school immunisation team if they have any further questions.
Parents are not being denied the information on the Patient Information Leaflet. The HSE parent information leaflet refers parents to the website www.hpv.ie where links to additional information including the licensing documentation, the Summary of Products Characteristics and the Patient Information Leaflet for each vaccine can be found.
